BJROKDALE — Bjorkdale School held a Celebrate Bjorkdale event on Thursday, June 22 to say farewell to a couple teachers and celebrate student athletic successes this year.
Long-time teacher Penny Mohr will be leaving Bjorkdale School to start a new career with the NESD as the First Nation, Métis and Inuit Education (FNMI) Consultant. She started at the school in 1999 and taught one year in Jenner, Alta. before laying roots in Bjorkdale. Mohr said she most enjoyed the students and seeing them grow into mature adults and also coaching. Mohr said that she will be taking many memories with her about school field trips, coaching and activities like STEM with her. Mohr is very excited to take on this new challenge as the FNMI Consultant.
Geoff Goldsworthy, Principal of Bjorkdale School, congratulated Penny on her new position and thanked her years of service, her countless hours of coaching and gifted her with an Indigenous buffalo painting from Wanuskewin Heritage Park.
"I’m most excited to meet with all the communities in the Northeast, especially our First Nation and Métis communities in the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation,” Mohr said.
This year, the Kindergarten, Grade 1 and 2 class had two teachers in the classroom. Mrs. Kim Slade taught the class until she went on maternity leave in February. The students then welcomed Veronica Nakonieczny. This was her first teaching job and now has accepted a position at the Star City school teaching Kindergarten, Grade 1 and 2. Alicia Orosz will be back in the fall teaching after being off on leave. Goldsworthy acknowledged Nakonieczny and Slade's service to the school.
Goldsworthy took this opportunity to celebrate the student athletic excellence this year at Bjorkdale School.
Daniellyn Johnson and Grace Mohr qualified for Provincial track in June. Grace qualified for the 800 metre and 1,500 emtre and racing her personal best times. Daniellyn Johnson attended her first Provincial Track and field finished seventh in Shot Put and won gold in Discus. This was the schools first banner since 2012 and the first gold at provincials since 1995.
Daniellyn has now been given the opportunity to attend a track camp in Regina and was sponsored by the Eileen Moen Legacy Fund and the Little Valley Playschool. The Bjorkdale SCC presented Daniellyn with a gift card.
In cross-country two students were league champions, Rowan Currey and Grace Mohr. This was Grace’s third year at provincial cross country.
The Junior 3-on-3 basketball team won NESSAC. The team included Avalene van Hasstert, Cooper Bartsch, James van Hasstert and Markus Ivanov.
The Junior curling finished second in the league play and they only lost one game all season long, unfortunately that was the league final. This included: Gabriella Vecchio, Garrett Babcock, Remy Sirois and Rowan Currey.
Goldsworthy went on to say how proud everyone is of all the Bjorkdale athletes and how well they represent the school at each athletic event.
